Trump's Bridge Blockade Threat Emerges After Key Meeting with Rival Owner
United States President Donald Trump's sudden threat to prevent the opening of a new international bridge connecting Detroit to Canada came immediately following a critical meeting between his Commerce Secretary and a billionaire who owns the existing border-crossing bridge just miles away, according to two individuals with direct knowledge of the situation.
Timing of Threat Raises Questions
On Monday evening, President Trump took to his Truth Social platform to declare he would block the Gordie Howe International Bridge from opening until Canada provided what he called "full compensation" to the United States. The president further demanded that the U.S. should own fifty percent of the valuable international asset.
This social media declaration followed a Monday meeting between Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Matthew Moroun, whose family owns and operates the Ambassador Bridge—currently the busiest crossing point over the border between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario. According to the sources, following this meeting, Lutnick placed a direct call to President Trump to discuss the matter.
Bridge Construction and Ownership Details
The $6.4 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge project, funded entirely by Canadian taxpayers, stands largely complete with its opening anticipated in the near future. Under an agreement established over a decade ago, Canada is positioned to receive all toll revenues until construction costs are fully recouped. After that milestone, revenue sharing will shift to an equal split between Canada and the state of Michigan, with both governments holding co-ownership of the bridge.
Both nations also appoint an equal number of representatives to an oversight body that will manage bridge operations. The White House has declined to comment on the situation, while representatives for Detroit International Bridge Company—the entity operating the Ambassador Bridge—and other companies where Moroun holds leadership positions have not responded to requests for comment.
Longstanding Opposition from the Moroun Family
The Moroun family has engaged in extensive lobbying efforts against Canada's construction of a new bridge for years, recognizing that the Gordie Howe span would directly compete with their privately-held Ambassador Bridge. In 2012, Matthew's father Matty Moroun supported an unsuccessful statewide ballot initiative in Michigan designed to restrict the state's ability to own or develop new international bridges.
Matthew Moroun later lobbied President Trump during his first term to rescind a waiver granted by former President Barack Obama that exempted the crossing from requirements to use only U.S.-manufactured steel. Following Matty Moroun's death in 2020, Moroun-affiliated companies have continued legal challenges that could have obstructed construction of the Gordie Howe bridge.
Broader Implications for U.S.-Canada Relations
President Trump's involvement introduces fresh uncertainty into the critical infrastructure project at a sensitive diplomatic moment. According to one source, the president aims to negotiate a new deal with Canadian officials regarding the Gordie Howe bridge. Trump spoke with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday morning, during which he requested involvement from U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, who hails from Michigan.
This latest confrontation with Canada—the largest purchaser of American exports worldwide—represents the most recent escalation in growing tensions between the neighboring nations as they prepare to review the economically vital Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement trade deal originally negotiated during Trump's first presidential term. The New York Times first reported details of the discussions between administration officials and bridge stakeholders.
